By NICOLE VALICEK
A WILLIAMSTOWN resident has asked the Ombudsman to investigate the ‘resident only’ parking signs erected in Gray Court.
Mark O’Brien first wrote to Hobsons Bay City Council in June with concerns about their decision to implement a “Permit Zone” in Gray Court, Williamstown.
Mr O’Brien bought his block of land on O’Connell Mews Lane 17 years ago and said he had always parked his car on Gray Court, which is at the end of his house.
He said as a ratepayer and user of the space, residents received a letter from the council, but he was not told about the investigation into the permit zone parking or involved in any decision-making processes.
“I want the signs taken down. It’s not consistent with the council policy,” he said.
“There’s no other permit parking (on residential streets) in Williamstown.”
Mr O’Brien said there were 24 available car parks on a street with six houses.
“I’m not going to stop. It really smells of bad management … it’s a stupid idea in an area that doesn’t warrant it.”
According to Hobsons Bay City Council CEO Chris Eddy the permit zone was introduced in response to concerns from residents in Gray Court.
Mr Eddy said the decision was also made in light of the amount of adequate parking in surrounding streets.
The parking signs were erected seven weeks ago and Gray Court residents now have access to both resident and visitor parking permits.
“The restrictions are working well with no further complaints received from residents of Gray Court,” Mr Eddy said.
According to the council, parking and local laws officers patrol all areas of Hobsons Bay to facilitate the turnover of parking spaces and provide customers access to businesses and residents access to properties.
Enforcement activities are carried out to enforce parking restrictions where required. The Council said it would continue to monitor the effectiveness of parking restrictions in Gray Court.
However, Mr O’Brien claims he has not seen council officers in the area.
“They (the residents) do the policing who parks in their street, it’s not the council patrolling it. It has created a vigilante mentality in Grey Court.”
In a letter to Mr O’Brien from the council last month he was advised to use additional parking spaces that were constructed 15 years ago at the northern end of O’Connell Mews to cater for the residents at the northern end of the street.
However, he said this becomes very difficult with his bad knee and being forced to walk on gravel and dirt.
In the letter to the Victorian Ombudsman, Mr O’Brien expressed concern about how the decision was made, lack of consultation and lack of transparency and response from the council.
The Ombudsman’s investigation is ongoing, but Mr O’Brien said he was prepared to take the matter to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
